Martin County Library System will host a community forum discussing the Indian River Lagoon at 6:00 pm on Monday, December 9 in the John F. Armstrong Wing of the Blake Library, 2351 SE Monterey Road, Stuart.

In a roundtable format, Noreen Fisher, member of the Library Foundation of Martin County’s Board of Directors and president of the League of Women Voters, will moderate a civil conversation with community members focused on the Indian River Lagoon. All points of view are welcome, but please note that this is neither a debate nor a rally and that no distribution of literature from any group is permitted.

The forum’s purpose being to facilitate civil conversation in a neutral environment, this will be a respectful discussion among members of the community. Tickets for the free event will be available to the first 30 people in line.

To learn more about the Martin County Library System, pick up a Library Connection at any Martin County library location, visit http://www.library.martin.fl.us or call 772-221-1403.

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The Martin County Library System (MCLS) is proud to offer educational resources for people of all ages dealing with cancer, including The Anne M. and Joel L. Pearl Cancer Resource Center, Treasure Coast Hospice events, Stitches of Kindness and multiple online websites and databases.

The Anne M. and Joel L. Pearl Cancer Resource Center opened in 2011 at the Blake Library in Stuart. The center is designed to educate community members on cancer awareness and prevention and is located in the Reference area on the library’s first floor. The center includes computers and reference materials on cancer prevention and treatment spanning medical texts and books on personal experience.

To make the center a more visible gathering place, the Tree of Love Honor and Remembrance Panel, designed and painted by artist Brenda Leigh, is a focal point for reflection and self-education. Donations to the center by the community in honor of loved ones are accepted by the Library Foundation of Martin County.

Treasure Coast Hospice partners with the library system to offer presentations to patrons needing help communicating their life wishes or learning how to cope with grief during the holidays. In November, they are presenting Coping with the Holidays and Remembering Departed Loved Ones at five Martin County libraries.

Offered at the Hobe Sound Public Library the fourth Wednesday of every month, Stitches of Kindness brings residents together for an afternoon of crocheting or knitting cancer caps to be donated to patrons in need. Stitches of Kindness also partners with Hospice House to participate in their veterans program. Because of the Thanksgiving holiday, there will be no event in November.

The library website also provides a wealth of resources for those looking to peruse information electronically. Located under “Research Resources/Anne M. & Joel L. Pearl Cancer Resource Center,” information ranging from nursing homes to health conditions and prescription drugs can be found here.

To learn more about the Martin County Library System and these resources, visit the website at www.library.martin.fl.us or call 772-221-1403.

Stuart, FL – The Library Foundation of Martin County is pleased to announce that the 20th anniversary edition of BookMania! will come alive on Saturday, March 8 and be held at the Wanda H. Yarboro Performing Arts Center of Martin County High School.

Priscilla Baldwin, President of the Library Foundation of Martin County, said the new date in March rather than in January as in prior years, is a better time of year with fewer event conflicts. The Library Foundation will also host the Kiplinger Literacy Award Luncheon on January 20 at Willoughby Golf Club.

“The Foundation is very pleased to continue sponsoring this event which is highly anticipated each year by authors and attendees alike,” Priscilla said. Diane Kimes will be producing the event for the Library Foundation.

The one-day event features nationally prominent and emerging authors participating on stage throughout the day in readings, panel discussions and interviews. Book signings and sales follow each panel appearance. Sponsorships supporting the event, which is free and open to the general public, are still available.

Stuart, FL – The Library Foundation of Martin County is pleased to announce the continuation of their very popular program “Homework Helpers” – thanks to a $20,000 donation from the Myra Schroeder Fund of the Martin County Community Foundation.

This unique program assists children in grades K-12 as well as college students and adult learners. The Library Foundation of Martin County has made it possible to provide staff and volunteers to assist these students with their learning needs. Homework Helpers provides a welcoming and safe environment with one-on-one homework assistance during after-school hours and throughout the summer. Volunteers are trained in the use of all the necessary library resources and technology.

The program is coordinated by Kaleigh Trendell, the Homework Helper Coordinator with the Martin County Library System. Kaleigh is new to the Library System and holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Florida State University in Family and Child Science. Prior to joining the Library System she taught K-6 grades in Houston, Texas. She currently resides in Stuart with her family. Kaleigh will also be recruiting, training and organizing volunteers, a new element of this successful program.

Jennifer Salas, Youth Services Manager for the Martin County Library System explained, “The donation from the Myra Schroeder Fund allows us to continue this valuable Homework Helpers program. It is so exciting that we can now more effectively use community volunteers to work with the students.”

Priscilla Baldwin, President of the Library Foundation Board of Directors commented that the Homework Helpers program previously had an annual operating cost of $60,000. Reformatting the program with a more efficient use of volunteers can release money in the former budget to expand other adult summer reading programs for literacy. Priscilla continued, “The Homework Helpers program provides vital personal assistance to students, which is so important to their success in school. The Library Foundation is pleased to lend support to the program and we are thrilled to have dedicated volunteers take a more active role in furthering students’ education.”

More volunteers are needed for this meaningful opportunity. The program is seeking 15-20 volunteers who are either retired educators, college students majoring in education, or those who relate well to children. Volunteers serve a minimum of two hours per week and are needed in all six libraries to cover three different shifts of afternoons, evenings and weekends. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old. Completion of an interview and background screening are required.

Homework Helpers was founded in 1999 and has served an average of 2,000 students and their parents each year. Volunteers not only help with homework, but also assist with studying for the FCAT, assembling science fair projects and helping with scholarship applications. Interested volunteers can contact Terry Dick at tdick@martin.fl.us.

Photo: Kaleigh Trendell, Homework Helper Coordinator, Martin County Library System; Priscilla Baldwin, president of the Library Foundation Board of Directors; and Jennifer Salas, Youth Services Manager, Martin County Library System, discuss plans for recruiting volunteers for the Homework Helper program provided in all six MCLS libraries.

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Submitted by Beverly Jones of BB Jones Communications, Inc.

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What child (or adult for that matter) hasn’t wished for a place to call their own? Somewhere they can go to hang out, kick back, get lost in their thoughts or a book, meet with friends, do a craft, or escape the heat? Now, the children of Palm City have been gifted that exact place through the generosity and literary passion of Clayton (Tim) and Anna Timmons. Climb the stairs to the new Children’s Room at the Peter & Julie Cummings Library and be whisked away to a summer full of fun and activity!

Nestled at the top of the 12-foot, life-like pine tree that frames the library’s stairway is the children’s area. Local artist Brenda Leigh, with assistance from Dwight Snedaker, created a special “treetop” environment there for our local children to enjoy. There are murals of native Florida flora, fauna and wildlife, a stage, giant stuffed alligators to get “comfy-cozy” on for reading and a world of books at their fingertips… but as we all know, libraries are more than just books!

Last year, over 3,700 children participated in summer special events and the reading-for-prizes program. This year expects even greater participation, and features the theme, “Dig into Reading.” The program kicked off June 1 and continues through August 18. In addition to regularly scheduled story times, all Martin County libraries offer a variety of performances, workshops, activities and games. Some of the highlighted features include:

· Science Saturdays
Dr. Wacky loves to play with science, music and magic! Learn about gas, carbon dioxide, miscibility and more from the fun, wacky doctor. All of the experiments done in this show can be recreated at home by kids. (Cummings)

· Animals in My Backyard
Look up in the trees. Now see what’s down on the ground. Animals in My Backyard is full of songs, nursery rhymes, stories and dances that will inspire toddlers and parents to explore and discover the wonders of the natural world. (Cummings)

· South Florida Science Museum: Secrets of EgyptTravel thousands of years back in time to discover what life along the Nile was really like in ancient Egypt. Students will explore replica artifacts and utilize the scientific method to determine the daily lifestyle of ancient Egyptians. (Morgade)

· Atlantic Coast Theater presents Florida TreasuresWhen two tourists discover a treasure chest full of historical artifacts, they are magically transported back in time in a fun-filled journey through Florida history. Laugh and learn about Ponce de Leon, Pensacola (Florida’s “almost oldest” city), St Augustine and the “original” Pocahontas story. (Hoke; Blake)

To see a complete list of our children’s events, please download a copy of the summer catalog at www.library.martin.fl.us or pick one up at any Martin County library.

NOTE: All summer special events and reading activities are FREE! Some require registration and / or have limited space. Please inquire about the events in which you are interested to ensure a spot.

The Library Foundation of Martin County, Inc., is proud to support these important programs that foster community, a love of learning, and promote reading gains. Escape into the Martin County Library System this summer… and be sure to drop by the Peter & Julie Cummings Library to have your very own adventure in our treetop retreat.

(STUART, FL) – The Martin County Library System (MCLS) is proud to announce it has expanded its services with eBooks and audiobooks! Available for download from the MCLS website using Freading™, OverDrive and TumbleBookLibrary (kids), registered library cardholders can check out and download digital media anytime, anywhere by visiting theRead, Watch & Listen webpage. These free services are made possible by funding from the Library Foundation of Martin County.

Freading provides a wide selection of over 23,000 fiction and nonfiction titles for patrons to choose from. All are free and available for checkout on demand, meaning there is no scanning a catalog of books that have already been checked out. Cardholders can download books, up to a weekly value of 10 tokens (each eBook has a token value which is set by publishers). Titles automatically expire after 14 days. Freading has its own apps for the iPad®, iPhone® and Android™ tablets and phones. It is also compatible with the Kindle Fire, Nook and Kobo devices.

OverDrive’s Next Generation Digital Library Platform of eBooks and audiobooks has been simplified! The new website uses ‘responsive design’ allowing the mobile and desktop experience to be the same and optimized for any size screen regardless of a user’s device. OverDrive Read is a brand new option allowing one-click access for instant reading on any tablet or smartphone, without the need for a download. OverDrive Media Console is a full-featured reading app, complete with customization tools, bookmarks and a built-in dictionary. Titles can be enjoyed immediately or transferred to a variety of devices, including iPod®, Sony® Reader™ and others. Some audio titles can also be burned to a CD to listen on-the-go. Titles automatically expire after 14 days and there are no late fees. Hot new releases such as Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, Last to Die by Tess Gerritsen and The Black Box by Michael Connelly are available at the click of a button!

TumbleBookLibrary is an online collection of TumbleBooks – animated, talking picture books created by adding animation, sound, music and narration to existing picture books which children can read or have read to them. TumbleBookLibrary provides enrichment to students who are reading independently and also provides support to students who require skill building. Games, puzzles and foreign language titles are also available.

To learn more about the Martin County Library System and these exciting options, visit the website at www.library.martin.fl.us or call 772-221-1403.

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The Irwin Solomon Jazz Trio will present a one-hour concert Saturday, April 6 at 2:00 p.m. in the Donahue Room of the Peter & Julie Cummings Library, 2551 S.W. Matheson Avenue, Palm City. The Trio takes participants on a journey through the Great American Songbook and tells the stories behind the songs of George Gershwin, Cole Porter and Duke Ellington. Underwritten by Elisabeth Lahti, the program is the fourth music event in the six-part Elisabeth Lahti Concert Series. Free tickets are required and are available for pickup only at the Cummings Library beginning April 2. Reservations cannot be accepted by telephone.

Consisting of Irwin Solomon on piano, Dave Tomasello on bass and Jason Miller on drums, the Trio features three of South Florida’s top jazz artists. A classically trained pianist, Solomon’s roots can be heard in his inventive stylings of jazz standards. Tomasello, known for his impeccable playing and musical interpretations, performs locally, nationally and internationally and is one of the most sought-after bass players in South Florida. Miller has performed and recorded with many well-known artists, including Dave Brubeck and Bela Fleck, and has played at jazz festivals nationwide. In 2002, he received the prestigious Pathfinder Award for Instrumental Music Performance.

For more information on this or other Chautauqua South events, call (772) 221-1403, pick up a Library Connection at any branch, or visit the library website at www.library.martin.fl.us.

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Jane Miller’s Art Spot Film Series continues March 5 through September 10 in the John F. Armstrong Wing of the Blake Library, 2351 S.E. Monterey Road, Stuart. Various artists will be discussed and related films shown on the large screen. This monthly series takes place on Tuesdays at 2:00 p.m. Sponsored by the Library Foundation of Martin County and presented with grant support from Women Supporting the Arts, the events are free and open to the public.

STUART, FL, Feb. 19, 2013 – Some events linger in the mind long after they’re over—BookMania! is one of them. Whether you caught one or all of its many author panel discussions or are only now discovering it, Martin County Library System’s annual author/book festival, held February 2 at Jensen Beach High School, met and even exceeded expectations. Nearly 3,000 flocked from miles around to the school’s 600-seat Performing Arts Center to hear 14 nationally recognized authors discuss their books and the writing process.

Lauris Liljestrand of Brevard County commented on a survey that she had “planned to leave early but stayed until the end.” Attending his first BookMania! with his wife Marjorie was MCLS director Brett Lear, who said, “I love this event! It’s a great way to celebrate Martin County’s love of reading and to connect our residents with nationally-known authors.” The popular festival drew beyond-capacity crowds for the 9:15 a.m. panel and attendance stayed strong throughout the day. Book sales, which followed each panel, were “substantially higher” than the previous year’s, per Lin Benevides, Barnes & Noble bookseller.

Author Katherine Hall Page wrote, “BookMania is such a special, and unique!, event. The icing on the cake was truly one of the best panels I have ever been on—Scott’s [Palm Beach Post Books Editor Scott Eyman] questions were terrific and I think they spurred all of us to dig deep into our thoughts on writing…” Literary Fiction panel author Rilla Askew wrote, “What a wonderful event BookMania! is! I had so much fun. Really enjoyed meeting the library staff and volunteers, and the panel with Wiley Cash was terrific. Sue [Whittington] had such great questions, and Wiley is a real charmer. And of course the weather and accommodations were superb!”

BookMania! is funded by the Library Foundation of Martin County, in support of the Martin County Library System, and underwritten by the Colonel Charles C. and Muriel W. Walts Fund.

The 2013 BookMania! brochure is available on the library website, http://www.library.martin.fl.us, along with a list of previous years’ authors. Look for another blockbuster in 2014 when BookMania! celebrates its twentieth year of excellence on the Treasure Coast! For more information or to learn more about the Martin County Library System call (772) 221-1403.

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